Piano case construction



J. SAUERLAND 2,09 7,604

PIANO CASE CONSTRUCTION Filed Sept. 18, 1936 Patented Nov. 2, 1937UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE PIANO CASE CONSTRUCTION ApplicationSeptember 18, 1936, Serial No. 101,377

Claims.

The invention relates to pianos of the minia ture type in which theaction is below the level of the keys so that the total height of thepiano is only slightly more than that of the keyboard.

The case for a piano of this type is provided with a flat top, part ofwhich folds back to expose the keyboard and the whole of which may beopened when necessary to give access to the mechanism for tuning andadjustment.

It is the principal object of the invention to provide a music rack fora miniature piano which will have sufficient height and proper slant tosupport sheet music, which will fold up inside the top when it isclosed, requiring a minimum of space,

' and which will present an attractive appearance.

The music rack according to this invention is ample in size, ispermanently hinged in place so as to be of simple construction and easyto operate and requires no enlargement of the piano case to accommodateit.

A further object of the invention is to combine the music rack with thefolding top in such a manner that when the entire top is opened themusic rack will be moved out of the way of the mechanism without havingto unscrew or remove any parts.

Other objects and advantages will more fully appear in connection withthe following detailed description of the present preferred embodimentof the invention, taken in conjunction with the drawing, in which:

Fig. 1 is a front elevation of the upper part of a miniature piano inplaying position with the keys exposed and the music rack raised;

Fig. 2 is a section on the line :c:c of Fig. 1; and

Fig. 3 is a view corresponding to Fig. 2 but showing the music racklowered and the top of the piano closed.

Referring to the drawing, the piano has the sides 5 and the back 6, thetop edges of which are all in the same horizontal plane. To the back 6is secured the iron string frame 8 in which are the tuning pins 9 fortensioning the strings Ill. The keys H and I2 operate the piano action(not shown) through pull rods l4 actuated by auxiliary levers 15, theaction being below the keys, as is characteristic of this type of piano.Extending across the front of the piano is the usual panel l6 whichextends slightly above the lower edges of the keys ll.

Above the keys and occupying the space between their tops and theunderside of the folded top is a transversely extending section ofcabinet work which may be collectively referred to as the name board l8(Fig. 1) and which is shown in the drawing as comprising the top stripIS, the middle strip and the lower strip 2|, all fastened together toform a unit. The folding cover for the piano is made in three pieces,the back top 22, the front top 23 and the top panel 24. The back top ishinged to the back 6 by the hinge 26, the front top is hinged to theback top by the hinge 21 and the top panel is hinged to the front top bythe hinge 28, so that the cover is capable of being opened, as shown inFig. 2, and closed, as shown in Fig. 3.

A music rack constructed in accordance with any desired ornamentaldesign is secured to the music-rack strip 3|, the length of which ispreferably the same as that of the music rack. This strip is fastened bythe hinge 32 to the underside of the back top 22 slightly to the rear ofthe forward edge thereof.

An aperture is provided in the name board 18 co-extensive with the widthof the music rack 30 by cutting away the top and middle strips I9 and 20to the extent shown in Figs. 2 and 3, thus providing a space in whichthe lower portion of the music rack is free to swing from open to closedposition. While the invention has been illustrated with the music rackoccupying about half of the width of the piano, this width may be variedas may be desired, the construction being otherwise the same.

The top of the middle strip in front of the music rack is provided withgrooves 34 and has a bead 35 along its forward edge to prevent musicstanding thereon from slipping. The bottom edge 35 of the music rack isbevelled so as to squarely abut the rear face 31 of the cut-out sectionof the middle strip 20 when the music rack is in raised position. Thislimits its rearward movement and determines its standing angle. Springcatches 3B are inserted in the inner ends of the top strip l9 andfrictionally engage sockets 39 in the music-rack strip 3| to preventaccidental falling.

Instead of utilizing the middle strip 20 of the name board [8 as abottom support for music a suitable ledge may be attached to the musicrack, in which case the aperture in the name board would be shaped toaccommodate it and suitable stops would be provided to hold the rack inraised position.

The lower section 40 of the music rack is preferably made solid to sucha height that when the rack is in the lowered position, shown in Fig. 3,it will cover the opening in the name board so as to prevent any objectsaccidentally falling 55 through that opening into the piano mechanism.It will be apparent from Fig. 2 that when the rack is raised it likewisecompletely closes the opening.

From Fig. 3 it will be seen that when the music rack is in loweredposition the lower part of the rack swings under the back top 22, thusmaking it possible to provide a rack of adequate height whichnevertheless will fold into'the available space inside the piano and yethave a fixed pivot. By this arrangement nearly one quarter of the rackis under the back top 22 when the rack is lowered.

It will be observed from the foregoing description that in order to gainaccess to the interior of the piano, and particularly to the tuning pins9 for the purpose of tuning the instrument, it is only necessary to tipback the entire top assembly, which carries with it the music rack, onthe hinge 2B which, and, in a single movement, opens the entire top ofthe piano without unfastening or unscrewing any parts.

Itis contemplated that various modifications may be made in the specificembodiment above particularly described within the limits of theinvention as defined in the claims.

What is claimed'is:

1. A piano case comprising a fiat top having front and back sections sohinged that the front section folds over onto the back section to exposethe keys, a music rack hinged to the underside of the back section, atransversely extending member extending from above the keys to theunderside of the top and having an aperture in which said rack is freeto swing, said rack being so mounted that when raised its lower edgeabuts said member.

2. A piano case comprising a flat top having front and'back sections sohinged that the front section folds over onto the back section to exposethe keys, a music rack hinged above its bottom to the underside of theback section, a transversely extending member extending from above thekeys to the underside of the top and having an aperture in which saidrack is free to swing, said rack having a solid lower portion adequatesubstantially to close said aperture when in the raised or loweredposition.

3. A piano case comprising a flat top having front and back sections sohinged that the front section folds over onto the back section to exposethe keys, 2. music rack hinged above its bottom to the underside of theback section, a transversely extending member extending from above thekeys to the underside of the top and having an aperture in which saidrack is free to swing, said rack resting against said member when openand partially swinging under said back section when closed. 7

*4. A piano case comprising a flat top having front and-back sections sohinged that the front section folds over onto the back section to exposethe keys, a top panel hinged to said front section and closing the frontof the piano when the top is closed, a music rack pivoted at a pointabove its bottom to the underside of the back section, a transverselyextending member enclosing the piano mechanism and having an aperture inwhich said rack is free to swing from raised to lowered position, saidrack when lowered lying within the area enclosed by said top andsaid toppanel.

5. A piano case comprising a fiat top having front and back sectionspivotally connected longitudinally, the back section being pivoted onthe back'of the piano, a music rack pivoted at a point above its bottomto the back section, a transversely extending member enclosing the pianomechanism and having an aperture throughv which said rack can swing, asa stop to limit the raised position of the rack, the said top and rackbeing together capable of being opened to give access to the pianomechamsm.

said member serving JOSEPH SAUERLAND.

